The laboratory phenomenon of EDTA-induced platelet aggregation

The phenomenon of EDTA-inducedplatelet aggregation is extremely rare and requiresspecial attention for true thrombocytopenia. Asurvey of 22836 patients, who first applied toour hospital. Methods of flow cytometry on theBeckman Coulter LH750 hematological analyzerand light microscopy of the samples with K2EDTAand sodium citrate were used. The incidence ofEDTA-dependent pseudotrombocytopenia wasfound to be 0.13 %. According to cytometry data,the main signs of this phenomenon are established,such as the indication of a device for false leukocytosis, the presence of platelet aggregation inblood smears during microscopy, the increase ofthrombocytopenia during storage of the sampleover time, revealed the absence of influence ofambient temperature on the increase in the number of platelet aggregates. Recommendations aregiven for the initial detection of thrombocytopeniain a patient to examine two samples: with K2EDTAand sodium citrate. Also there is a review of literature that shows the relevance of the issue and theinterest of specialists from different countries tothis problem, which has been already preservedfor 40 years.